Chairman, House Committee on Local Government in Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Fafunmi Saka, in this interview with journalists including Top Celebrities Magazine’s Assistant Editor, speaks on insecurity in the country. The preparedness of the opposition for the 2015 general election, the type of leader the nation needs and the granting of amnesty in the country among other sensitive issues.
Do you think we are winning the war against insecurity with the declaration of state of emergency?
Well, the declaration of state of emergency is a constitutional provision that has been there in case there is a breakdown of law and order. It is apparent that the present government cannot provide the security needed for the protection of lives and property. The constitution permits the President to declare a state of emergency with the approval of the National Assembly, which the President did. If it is yielding result, it is another kettle of fish altogether. I want to believe that the state of lawlessness and activities of the Boko Haram since the state of emergency was declared have been on the decline and in no distant time, we expect the military formation and other security agencies to restore peace in those areas and allow the government to do their business.
No doubt, the state of emergency will cause inflation in the affected areas. Prices of commodities in those areas will go up and the purchasing power of the people will reduce because the commercial activities in the states will be almost grounded. But I do not see that as a sacrifice too much for us to pay; considering the number of lives we have lost to Boko Haram. If this is the only pragmatic approach that will yield result, I think it is a sacrifice that people of the affected states will have to make, at least for now.
Most people see unemployment as the cause of the insurgency. Don’t you think addressing it should be the first approach?
Well, if what we read in the pages of the newspapers or what we have heard about Boko Haram is true, then it is a reaction of those who feel that western education is abomination and instead of embracing western education, they became Islamic fundamentalists that were not able to meet their financial needs. If you look at their name, Boko means “education” and Haram means “abomination”; meaning education is an abomination. You will notice that they are being misled by their leaders. And the few of them that are educated made sure their children acquire western education. So, if really western education is Haram to Islam, why is it not Haram to the elite of the North? So, it is something that people should be prepared to embrace by engaging in dialogue instead of killing innocent people. The challenge is that they should be more interested in coming together and not allowing somebody to misinform them.
Do you support amnesty for the sect?
It is not something that needs to be encouraged. Because the people in the Niger Delta cried for amnesty to be able to stop the crisis in that region, does not mean we should encourage it. Sincerely, I do not see amnesty as the only way out. If we continue to give amnesty when there is any unrest or a group of people is expressing their anger against the action or policies of government, where will the nation end? If you continue it, any other group would also want to foment trouble so as to receive amnesty. Most of the resources meant to develop and revamp our economy are now being diverted to paying amnesty. Go and look at those Niger Delta boys before amnesty and look at the way they live after amnesty. Does that speak well for our economy? Those are the issues. It is also causing inflation in the area because those who were not part of the amnesty are paying for the excess liquidity that came to their state. If amnesty is granted in the North, I won’t be surprised that in no distant future, the people from the South-West will group themselves and call for amnesty because amnesty will be seen as a national cake. So, if you think that is the only way out, why not make all Nigerians rich?
Do you think the All Progressives Congress (APC) can make a difference in 2015?
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is not just a party; it is the compendium of parties coming together as one. In any society where you don’t have a credible opposition; there won’t be development. As long as the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are yearning for change, APC would succeed. Lagos is where it is today because Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is the ruling party in the state and the Federal Government has tried all means to take-over power from the ACN but despite everything, ACN is still on top. So, if Nigerians want the country to move forward and take their pride of place in the world, we must support the credible voice that will speak. From Lagos to the North or anywhere in Nigeria and no party can have such strength except through merger and that is what APC has come to do. I am optimistic that APC will deliver the people of Nigeria from the hands of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 general elections.
Is there any agreement in APC as to which zone should produce the presidential flag bearer of the party in 2015?
Frankly speaking, it is not a do or die affair that a particular region in the country must rule, though there is the constitutional position that allows equal representation. We have had it in the past-northerners and southerners ruling the nation and for me; my interest is not where the President comes from. What I want and expect to see is a man who has vision, a man who understands what governance is all about, a man who will see himself as a servant, leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a man who will do anything to ensure that Nigerians are comfortable. A lot of Nigerians are not living comfortably. A human life should not be deprived of the basic needs of life. Many Nigerians do not have shelter and some don’t have food. A man who understands what it means to be a leader and has a vision to drive us is the person I am really interested in and not somebody who does not have focus but just because he is from my part of the country.
You must have a vision and now think of how to achieve the vision by bringing good and capable hands. That is what leadership is all about. A leader is a person who is able to identify the needs and ensure that those needs are met by using people around him to actualise them. Nigeria as a nation is not bounded by our economic activities; most of the time, our limitation is as a result of our decision. We are not limited by the cost of petrol or crude oil in the international market. We make billions of money from there. What do we do with the money? I think the problem is that we limit ourselves by not doing what is right. Have you imagined what would have happened if the Federal Government had decided to build inter model transportation system between Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and Ilorin so that people can commute between the states in less than two hours. Now, we are not saying that the Federal Government should invest the money they have made in the project; there are investors who are willing to bring their money. What they just need is for you to provide enabling environment by amending the constitution and removing what you have in the exclusive legislative list, privatize that area and see what we can get out of it. If you travel outside the country, you will see the new rail system, the underground rail system and various means of transportation.